16 Pavium
Pavium, also known as The Unbreakable, is a Jiralhanae Warlord within the Banished. He can be great for defense with his drones that can heal his base and his powerful turrets.
Despite these good points, Pavium focuses too much on defense, making him work more like a support unit, unable to attack others effectively.
Unique Units:
Leader Powers:
15 Arbiter
The Arbiter, who was once in charge of the Sangheili (also known as the Elites) Covenant army, isn’t the best Leader for newcomers. The Arbiter has quite a steep learning curve to be able to use him effectively. When his abilities on his power wheel are unlocked, he can be very powerful and chaotic on the battlefield.
Unfortunately, due to his complexity and varied powers, it can be challenging to play as the Arbiter, often relying on his Rage ability. Although the Arbiter is fun, there are more enjoyable Leaders to focus on instead.
14 Serina
Serina, a second-generation AI, was assigned to the UNSC Spirit Of Fire as a Military Advisor. She can be pretty valuable in assisting other members of your team with combos using her Cryo powers.
Serina’s big downside is her units, which do not stand out as much as other Leaders, making her sometimes weaker when playing solo.
13 Kinsano
Kinsano was an Insurrection Leader that battled the Unified Earth Government but is now a Leader of the Firestorm Battle Group. Kinsano can be great for those wanting to cause chaos with flames.
Unfortunately, these flame abilities are not the most effective strategy. Kinsano’s Inferno power and Flame Warthogs are great against buildings. But, they are not the most effective against other enemy units.
12 Isabel
Isabel is an AI who just managed to survive an attack by Atriox and has sworn revenge. Storywise, she’s pretty interesting. But as a leader, she can be a little generic.
Isabel has some incredible powers, such as Ghost In The Machine, which allows her to take control of enemy units temporarily. But, overall, there are far more exciting Leaders to pick.
Unique Unit:
11 Professor Anders
Professor Ellen Anders is a Researcher with a grudge against the Covenant. Her focus on Sentinels can make her a little predictable in battle, but she’s still quite a well-rounded Leader to pick.
She has cheaper unit costs than some of the other Leaders, allowing you to build an effective army that you can also adapt mid-battle more easily.
10 Voridus
Voridus is a Jiralhanae Lieutenant of the Banished, who once had quite an intense encounter with the mysterious Flood. He can be a little complex to learn but is a fun Leader to play as.
Voridus’ infusion powers allow for quite an aggressive style of play, especially early on. He can struggle mid-game, though, with a need to rely on his Frenzy ability.
9 Shipmaster
Shipmaster Let ‘Volir is the Captain of the Enduring Conviction flagship. He isn’t the strongest Leader but is excellent for evasive maneuvers and scouting.
The Shipmaster is well versed in support tactics, especially with his ability to teleport units. As with many of the support/defense-based Leaders, Shipmaster is not as great with offense tactics and requires some mastering to utilize him well.
8 Sergeant Johnson
The highly trained Sergeant Major Avery Johnson has served the UNSC throughout the war with the Covenant. He’s a good choice for those wanting to build up their forces before they strike. As his abilities unlock, he can become quite a dangerous force.
Johnson can be a touch predictable, being likely always to make use of his Mechs. An enemy can prepare for this and combat with air and anti-vehicles to beat him.
7 Sergeant Forge
A Veteran of the UNSC Marine Corps, Sergeant John Forge has some great drops to send out mid-game, such as cloaked mines and vehicle drops. His specialized Warthog is also great for protecting his units early on.
One downside to Forge is that his units, especially the Grizzly, can be pretty slow. They can be at a disadvantage against speedier enemies. But, overall, he’s a solid pick to try out.
6 Jerome-092
Jerome Cable is a Spartan-II and a Commander of the UNSC Naval Special Warfare Command. Having been a hero unit in the first game, Jerome is now the hero for his own army. He can be quite a threat during combat, especially as he grows stronger throughout the game. Strategies often focus on using his hero unit as much as possible.
Jerome-092’s other units are also incredibly tough in a battle, such as a Mastodon Carrier. Jerome-092 can be a good choice in Leader for those who like to use rush tactics with these tough to damage units.
5 Yapyap The Destroyer
Yapyap, formerly the Deacon of the Ministry Of Sanitation for the Covenant Empire, is one of the more comical Leaders. He has a focus on infantry, which enemies can easily combat. But, his units are relentless and great for bombarding your foes.
Yapyap has some great healing units to survive longer in battle. Alongside this, he has a wide array of powers and drops that are really fun to experiment with.
4 Captain Cutter
Captain James Cutter serves as the Commanding Officer of the UNSC Spirit Of Fire. He’s a Leader that gets stronger as the game goes on, although even his early game is quite impressive.
He unlocks several valuable drops and support powers that help him become quite a threat. From ODST Squads to Cyclops, Cutter is excellent for dropping in veteran units right into the heat of a battle.
3 Atriox
Atriox, a Jiralhanae Warlord, is the terrifying Leader of The Banished. He can be utilized in different ways depending on your playstyle. He works well for defensive strategies, building up his base. To do so, he makes use of his Fortifications power to claim bases at a lower price.
Alternatively, Atriox can be great for an aggressive approach as well. With the use of jump pack brutes, he can gain an advantage very early on to take over the map.
2 Decimus
Decimus, a dangerous Brute, is a War Chief of the Banished and second in command to Atriox. He’s one of the more straightforward Leaders to get to grips with, allowing you to master his tactics quickly.
The most significant selling point for playing as Decimus is all of his passive powers. These often have a permanent effect and give a vital advantage in the many battles taking place. With speed and damage boosts, Decimus’ units show how powerful he can be as a leader.
1 Colony
This fantastic Leader is, in fact, a duo. Colony is the shared name of two Mgalekgolo Bond Brothers. They are known for their incredibly dangerous units, especially their Goliaths and Hunter Captains, that are difficult to take down.
They are great at overwhelming their enemies while also keeping their units alive with plenty of defense tactics, such as heals and buffs. Overall, they are pretty balanced and can become quite an unstoppable force. They are an ideal choice for Leaders as you prepare for your next epic battle.
Of course, everyone will have a Leader that speaks out to them the most. With Halo Wars 2 having such a fantastic multiplayer experience, it is worth giving all the Leaders a try and seeing what works best for you.
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